Close-up of fine, bright green foam on freshly whisked matcha

Matcha vs. coffee: what's the difference?

One serving of matcha (3 g) contains about 100 mg of caffeine – roughly as much as an espresso (about 80 mg) or a cup of filter coffee (about 90 mg). The figure comes from Japan's official food composition table (3.2 g of caffeine per 100 g of matcha) and varies from one matcha to another. The bigger difference lies elsewhere: in taste and preparation. With matcha you drink the whole, finely ground tea leaf, whisked with water at 75–80 °C.

At a glance

	Amount	Caffeine (approx.)
Matcha	3 g powder + 60 ml water	~100 mg
Espresso	60 ml	~80 mg
Filter coffee	200 ml	~90 mg
Black tea	220 ml	~50 mg

Matcha: calculated from MEXT (Japan). Coffee and black tea: EFSA reference values. All values are approximate.

How much caffeine does matcha have?

Japan's food composition table (MEXT) lists 3.2 g of caffeine per 100 g of matcha powder, which is 32 mg per gram. For our 3 g serving that comes to about 96 mg, so roughly 100 mg per cup. Because you drink the whole leaf with matcha, you take in all of its caffeine. With brewed tea, part of it stays behind in the leaves.

Why the number varies

Matcha is a natural product. Lab analyses of different matchas found roughly 19 to 44 mg of caffeine per gram. Cultivar, harvest time, leaf age and shading all play a role. For a 3 g serving that means roughly 60 to 130 mg. If you want a working number, assume "about 100 mg" and allow some leeway.

What about hojicha?

Hojicha is roasted green tea, usually made from older leaves. It generally contains noticeably less caffeine than matcha: in a Japanese analysis of 85 teas, bancha and hojicha came in at around 2% caffeine, shaded teas such as matcha at 3.5–4%. Hojicha is not caffeine-free, though.

Taste: two completely different worlds

Coffee tastes roasted – chocolatey, nutty, fruity or bitter depending on the bean and the roast. Matcha tastes green, with umami (that savoury, brothy taste), natural sweetness and, depending on the cultivar, more or less astringency.

With single-cultivar matcha in particular, the differences are big:

Yabukita is consistent, reliable and clean in the cup.
Okumidori is creamy and grounding, with nutty depth.
Gokou brings to mind dark chocolate and sweet cream, with a long finish.

If you like coffee with chocolate notes, Gokou or the roasted hojicha (roasted nuts, caramel, cocoa) are often an easy way in.

Preparation: easier than you think

For an espresso you need a machine. For matcha you need a sieve, a bowl and a whisk. A milk frother works too.

Sift 3 g of matcha through a fine sieve.
Pour in 60 ml of water at 75–80 °C – not boiling water.
Whisk for 15–20 seconds until a fine foam forms.

For a latte, mix it with 150 ml of milk of your choice. You'll find all the details in our matcha latte recipe and in our FAQ.

Does matcha wake you up "differently" from coffee?

You'll often read online that matcha feels "gentler" or "lasts longer" than coffee. Besides caffeine, matcha naturally contains the amino acid L-theanine. But there are hardly any solid studies comparing a cup of matcha with a cup of coffee, as Swiss broadcaster SRF has pointed out, for example. So we won't promise you any effect here. Honestly: both drinks contain caffeine, and how you react to it is individual.

How much caffeine a day is okay?

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers these amounts safe for healthy adults:

up to 200 mg at a time and up to 400 mg a day from all sources combined;
up to 200 mg a day during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
even 100 mg shortly before bedtime can affect sleep in some people.

So a 3 g cup of matcha, at about 100 mg, is in the same range as a cup of coffee. If you're sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or taking medication, check with your doctor if in doubt.

What does a cup cost?

We calculate with 3 g of matcha per cup. With a 30 g tin, depending on the cultivar, you're at about €2.30 to €4.49 per cup, without milk. With the 80 g tin of Daily Matcha Okumidori (€55.00) it's about €2.06 per cup. You can see every cultivar and its price per cup in our matcha comparison.

Which matcha suits coffee drinkers?

You usually drink coffee with milk? Start with Daily Matcha Okumidori. It's creamy, balanced and made for every day, straight or as a latte.
You drink your coffee black? Try Yabukita straight, Japan's most widely grown cultivar.
You want to compare right away? The MATCHA DUO Umami Bomb brings Gokou and Okumidori together.

Frequently asked questions

Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?
Per cup, about the same: around 100 mg per 3 g of matcha, compared with about 80 mg in an espresso and about 90 mg in filter coffee (EFSA).

Can I drink matcha instead of coffee in the morning?
Of course. It contains a similar amount of caffeine but tastes completely different. Many people start with a matcha latte.

Does a matcha latte have less caffeine than straight matcha?
No. Milk contains no caffeine. Only the amount of matcha counts – 3 g in our recipe.